The iPhone 3G is an updated version of Apple's touch-screen smartphone,
adding support for faster 3G network connections and also GPS capability for
location-based services such as navigation. However, despite the addition of
some enterprise-friendly features, the iPhone is still more of a consumer device
than a business tool.
Available in the UK since July on
O2's network, the iPhone
3G is a slick, user-friendly device that offers support for Microsoft Exchange
email systems and an impressive web browser. This makes the device attractive
for accessing web-based applications, but the lack of a keyboard will be a
handicap for many users, and its device management capabilities are still
rudimentary compared with other platforms.
The new iPhone is almost identical in appearance to the
first
version, with a 3.5in display that almost fills the front panel. There are
few other controls – a single button beneath the screen returns the user to the
"home" screen when pressed, an on/off switch is on the top edge of the case, and
the left edge has a ringer off toggle and volume up/down button.
At 133g, the iPhone is heaver than a standard phone, but still lighter than
many smartphones. It is also roughly the same size as many rival devices, such
as the
BlackBerry
Curve. Like the original iPhone, this new model has 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth in addition to its GSM and 3G cellular radios.
Unlike most other touch-screen devices, the iPhone's user interface is
entirely finger driven. No stylus is supplied, as these do not work - the screen
does not respond to pressure. A bonus of this is that you are less likely to
accidentally dial a number with the iPhone in a bag or your pocket. The device's
320x480 display is also one of the best we have seen on any mobile device.
The home screen presents a set of application icons that the user simply
touches to activate, with key functions such as phone, email and Safari (web
browser) in a row at the bottom of the display. Inside an application, the
controls are likewise activated by touch. When data input is required, an
on-screen keyboard appears, and some functions are controlled by gestures.
Inside the browser, for example, putting two fingers on the screen and pulling
them apart zooms in, while an on-screen slider control is used to unlock the
device.
We found the on-screen keyboard unsatisfactory compared with a physical
keyboard, especially those on many BlackBerry models. Whenever your finger goes
anywhere near the screen, it registers as a keypress, often causing the wrong
character to be entered. In our experience, this makes the iPhone unsuitable for
heavy-duty messaging, although the phone dialling keypad with fewer keys works
just fine.
The iPhone's new 3G support provides HSDPA download speeds up to 3.6Mbit/s,
and we found this noticeably improved loading of web pages in the Safari browser
compared with the original iPhone, although browsing over a Wi-Fi connection is
still faster.
For enterprise customers, the iPhone 3G now supports Microsoft's Exchange,
and is capable of receiving email, contacts and calendar updates pushed over the
cellular connection. Administrators can also gain limited control of an iPhone
using policies applied via Exchange, such as enforcing passwords or remotely
wiping a device. However, the iPhone does not implement all Exchange features.
To provision a handset, the iPhone 3G supports Configuration Profiles, XML
files that contain settings for device security policies, VPN configuration,
Exchange settings and certificates. Apple provides a web-based configuration
console that enables administrators to create configuration files and email them
direct to users from the console itself, or post them to a web site for
downloading.
The other major new feature of the iPhone 3G is GPS. This provides the user's
location for applications such as the built-in Google Maps, which can give
directions to local amenities and user-specified destinations. The iPhone
supports Assisted GPS (A-GPS), which makes use of information from the cellular
network as well as satellites to determine location.
We found that the iPhone was unable to get a fix on our location in central
London, due to the number of tall buildings that interfere with the satellite
signals. Outside the capital, however, the iPhone had no difficulty pinpointing
the location within minutes.
Another new feature aimed at enterprise buyers is VPN support. This includes
L2TP, PPTP and Cisco IPSec protocols, with authentication via RSA SecurID or
CryptoCard tokens. L2TP and PPTP additionally support MS-CHAPv2 authentication.
From a business perspective, the iPhone 3G thus has potential for some
vertical applications, if developers can match the level of ease of use
demonstrated in the built-in software. Our review unit shipped with 16GB of
Flash storage (an 8GB unit is also available), which should provide ample space
for applications and data.
This must be measured against the fact that the iPhone doubles as an iPod
media player and has a link from the home screen direct to the iTunes music
store, features that are unlikely to endear the device to corporate buyers.
There is also no easy way for a customer to replace the battery. Unlike most
other mobile handsets, this means that users cannot carry a spare on a business
trip in case the main battery runs out. It also means that the iPhone must be
returned to Apple to replace a defective battery.
Apple would not specify the size of the battery inside the new iPhone, but
quotes the handset as lasting for five hours of talk time, or up to 300 hours on
standby. Apple also claims the device can deliver up to five hours internet use
on a 3G connection, or six hours on Wi-Fi.
